Sanford To Pick Members For Historic Panel

SANFORD — City commissioners have two weeks to decide whom they want to recommend as candidates for the new Sanford Historic Preservation Board.

Commissioners on Monday tentatively created the 11-member committee and designated a 16-block area as the city's historical district. Final approval is expected at the Oct. 28 meeting.

The district would stretch north along Myrtle Avenue, east on Fulton Street, south on Park Avenue to east Commercial Street and then south on Sanford Avenue, west along 3rd Street back to Myrtle.

In other city business, commissioners voted to grant a peddler's license to Plants At Work owner John P. White so he can sell flowers in the covered walkway next to Hampton Gardens Restaurant.

City Manager Frank A. Faison originally recommended denying White's request to avoid setting a precedent that would allow other sidewalk vendors. Mayor Bettye Smith said she did not want to create a precedent that would open the door to sidewalk sales of velvet paintings and ''widgets.''

However, after hearing White's plans and noting that the covered walkway is private property, Smith and Faison changed their opinions.

White, whose office is at 106 E. First St., said he plans to set up a large table display of flowers, plants, pottery and baskets between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturday mornings.

Commissioner Dave Farr approved of White's plan and said the peddler's license is designed to prevent merchants from locating on busy intersections and creating a hazard. He said White's business would cater to ''appropriate'' pedestrian traffic through the walkway.

Commissioners on Monday also denied a request for permission to sell alcoholic beverages in a pub that would have opened at 2680 Orlando Ave.

Phyllis Flaherty, who told the commission that her parents ran a pub years ago in Lake Mary, said she wanted to sell beer and wine along with hot and cold sandwiches. Renting space in the Fairway Plaza was contingent upon getting the permit, Flaherty said.

Five residents and a business owner objected to the request, saying too many students frequented the area and that alcohol sales would hurt neighboring businesses.